The Morning-ish Heresy 5/18/12: Bio-Adjusting Mattress

May 18, 2012

Tonight marks the start of the much-talked-about Women in Secularism conference, and I have a feeling this is going to be an event that will really get the gears turning for folks in the movement. I suspect a lot of content generation will result.

I write to you now from the New England skies, on a plane from Portland, Maine headed for a connection in Philly, and then on to my former home of DC, trying out this whole blogging thing from an iPad (thus the late publication). As soon as I can snag a grip on one of the tendrils of the World Wide Interwebs, I'll post this somewhat-rushed edition of the Heresy and then, I dunno, probably do a lot of ironing of my questionably-packed "formal" clothes.

. . . atheists seem to feel perfectly comfortable with anything of the Islamic religion. That seems to be an act of cowardice and discriminatory. OK, let us say these godless people want complete separation of church and state. So does it mean stealing, killing (murder), committing adultery and lying will all be acceptable in their eyes?

Whenever New Atheists make claims about religion as a human phenomenon, their claims should respect the authority of empirical evidence. Insofar as the new discipline of ERS has added to empirical knowledge of religion, the New Atheists should be paying close attention to ERS. This is especially true for Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, whose names are so closely associated with evolution.

God may punish those who mock Him, or His messages, or His messengers on Judgment Day, but no where in these verses does it say “kill them now.” So, by what authority do these so-called “defenders of the faith” call for the murder of so-called “blasphemers.” They have none, and they distort the holy Word of God when they do thus.

MsJoyFG at BlogHer struggles with people pressuring her to get her kid into a church:

I understand why these children feel it is imperative to invite [my daughter] to church. It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat a snack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die.

The Grumpy Anti-theist on magic bio-adjusting mattresses and gullibility

This is comforting as I prepare to board: Plane almost crashes when it spots a UFO

Quote of the Day:

Cord Jefferson at Gawker talks about being a black atheist, as a kid remembers confusion over the last line of MLK's "Dream" speech:

"One day, if everyone does get free at last," I asked my dad, "why would we thank God Almighty? Why not thank ourselves for working hard?"

Comments:

#1 Max (Guest) on Sunday May 20, 2012 at 7:05am

“In a story about the Asia Bibi blasphemy case in Pakistan, CNN goes out of its way to say that the Qur’an and Hadith do not contain a death penalty for blasphemy, thereby implying that Asia Bibi is in danger of death because of cultural or political factors, not because of anything that needs to be addressed within Islam. This is a familiar mainstream media practice when it comes to stories about honor killing or genital mutilation: the story will inevitably assure the reader that the practice in question has nothing to do with Islam, and give no hint of why it is so widely tolerated and practiced in Islamic countries. This only assures that the human rights establishment will never address these issues properly, and thus these practices will continue.”

It goes on to quote Islam QA:
“The scholars are unanimously agreed that a Muslim who insults the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) becomes a kaafir and an apostate who is to be executed… This ruling is indicated by the Qur’aan and Sunnah…
With regard to the Sunnah, Abu Dawood (4362) narrated from ‘Ali that a Jewish woman used to insult the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and say bad things about him, so a man strangled her until she died, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ruled that no blood money was due in this case.”

#2 Max (Guest) on Sunday May 20, 2012 at 7:22am

Here’s what Islam QA says about Judgement Day.

“Insulting the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is one of the worst of forbidden actions, and it constitutes kufr and apostasy from Islam, according to scholarly consensus, whether done seriously OR IN JEST. The one who does that is to be executed even if he repents, and whether he is a Muslim OR A KAAFIR. If he repents sincerely and regrets what he has done, this repentance will benefit him on the Day of Resurrection and Allaah will forgive him.” (Emphasis added)

So instead of letting Allah punish the blasphemer on Judgement Day, you kill him now and let Allah FORGIVE him on Judgement Day!

Hey, I read it. I’m not sure, however, that a great deal of exposure to such items feeds a sense of optimism so much as a sense of dark humor which is quite capable of spiraling into vortex of depression. Handy criptic expressions such as “Oy vey” come to mind.

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

E-Mail Updates

Sign up for e-mail updates from CFI

Search All Free Thinking Blogs

Paul Fidalgo has been communications director of the Center for Inquiry since 2012. He holds a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University, and has worked previously for FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy and the Secular Coalition for America. Paul is also an actor and musician whose work includes five years performing with the American Shakespeare Center. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids. His blog is Near-Earth Object, and he tweets at @paulfidalgo.